Dakar 2018: Price takes a bite out of Walkner’s lead as Barreda retires

Stage 11 – Belen to Chilecito, 205km liaison, 280km special stage

Factory KTM rider Toby Price made up for yesterday’s frustrations of getting lost by dominating stage 11 of Dakar. Helped by his high starting number, the Australian had plenty of routes to follow and riders to chase down and made the most of it to take a serious bite out of race leader and team-mate Matthias Walkner’s overall lead.

With factory Honda rider Kevin Benavides (who made the same mistake as Price yesterday) in tow, Price beat Walkner by 11m 01s on the stage and sits third overall in the standings behind Benavides.

MORE DAKAR NEWS

• Brits push on through longest stage yet
• Tight at the top as stage nine cancelled
• Poskitt and Hunt survive toughest stage
• Injured Barreda wins stage, Van Beveren takes regains overall lead
• Also for more news subscribe to MCN now

He said: “Yesterday was hard… I’ve never felt so bad in my life. Today we just needed to try and see if we could claw back a little bit of time, and I think we’ve done that. There is still a long way to go and plenty more KM, but it’s going to be tough from back where we are.  Now we need to make a good clean race until the end and push when we can. In the first week I was quite conservative, but the mistake yesterday threw a spanner in the works. It’s good to get a stage win because I hadn’t done that this year so far so all in all we’re ready for another day tomorrow. Dakar is tough anyway and they are really giving us a tough one this year.

Despite finishing fifth, it was still a good day for Walkner who had the disadvantage of opening the stage, but consolidated his substantial lead.

He said: “I spent most of the time with Stéphane Peterhansel today. I passed him on the dunes, but on the fast bits he passed me. Every day can change everything. I have to stay focused day after day. I don’t think so much about victory. Of course, I’m a little bit nervous. Just missing one waypoint can cost you 20 minutes. Keeping going and doing my best is all I can do.”

While Walkner and Price were celebrating it was a disaster for both factory Honda man Joan Barreda and Slovakian KTM man Stefan Svitko who both retired from the race. 

British riders Lyndon Posit and Max Hunt battled their way to the end of the stage but with today being the first part of the second Marathon stage there is no opportunity to speak to either rider directly, but Poskitt posted this: 

“Bit of a forced smile. Really struggled today, couldn’t get into a rhythm and pretty much rode shit. Course was super rough. At least I’m here safe, hopefully have a better day tomorrow”

Hunt secured an impressive 38^th on the stage with Poskitt 41^st and third Malle Moto rider.

In the overall standings Poskitt is 33^rd and second in the Malle Moto class, with Hunt placed 36^th. 

Stage 11 results

1. Toby Price                    AUS                  KTM                 4h 01m 33s
2. Kevin Benavides           ARG                 Honda              +1m 38s
3. Antoine Meo                FRA                  KTM                 +6m 31s
4. Ricky Brabec                USA                  Honda              +7m 34s
5. Matthias Walkner        AUT                 KTM                 +11m 01s
6. Gerrard Fares               ESP                  KTM                 +12m 32s 

Overall results at the end of stage 1:

1. Matthias Walkner       AUT                 KTM                 36h 33m 37s
2. Kevin Benavides          ARG                 Honda              +32m 00s
3. Toby Price                   AUS                  KTM                 +39m17s
4. Gerard Farres             ESP                  KTM                 +49m17s
5. Antoine Meo               FRA                  KTM                 +59m 05s
6. Ricky Brabec               USA                  Honda              +1h 18m 10s

Have a browse for your next bike on MCN Bikes For Sale website or use the MCN’s Bikes For Sale App.